What it means
Many drugs are made as salts, a chemical form that can change stability or how the drug dissolves. The semaglutide in Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus is the base form. Some compounded products have instead used semaglutide sodium or semaglutide acetate.
The FDA says these salts are different active ingredients from the one in approved drugs. It has no data showing they have the same chemical or drug properties, and says it knows of no lawful basis for using them in compounding. It first raised this warning in 2023.
Labels on compounded vials may not make the salt form obvious. If you have a compounded product, you can ask the pharmacy in writing what exact ingredient it contains and where it came from.
Sunny Weigh tools are based on trials of the approved drugs and do not apply to salt forms.
Why it matters
A product called 'semaglutide' may not contain the same ingredient that was tested in the trials.